Just weeks before the official start of the hurricane season, meteorologists are monitoring a growing tropical disturbance slowly forming in the Gulf of Mexico.

The area of cloudiness, showers, and thunderstorms began stirring over the waters stretching from western Cuba across the Gulf.

The messy spread of lingering clouds and heavy rain lifted northward Sunday and brought some of its rain to the Space or Treasure coasts. The high rain chances are expected to remain in place for the remainder of the week.

“Regardless of whether or not this disturbance develops, our weather is going to stay the same, that we’re going to see rain. It’s expected to remain in the eastern gulf and we will have some deep moisture,” said Scott Kelly, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Messy disturbance swirling in the Gulf of Mexico(Photo: NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)

“We are going to see some high rain chances. There could be some heavy rain over the next few days but we need it, we’re nearing the end of our dry season,” he said.

The system has a 30 percent chance of forming into a cyclone over the next two days and a 40 percent chance within five, the hurricane center reports.

Researchers say this year could see an active hurricane season with up to 18 storms, according to scientists at Colorado State University.

Gallop at 321-242-3642

or jdgallop@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @JDGallop

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